UPPER MONTCLAIR, N.J. -- As the New York Red Bulls' afternoon practice came to a close at Montclair State University, head coach Mike Petke walked from the field wearing a sweat-stained jersey and a pair of soccer shorts. Petke usually leads team workouts from the sidelines, but on this occasion he performed the drills alongside his players.

"It's an opportunity to let these guys kick me, I give everybody one free shot," Petke joked. "It's stress relieving. It feels good to get in the mindset of a player again."

The player mindset is still alive and well in Petke, who is just 10 games into his freshman year as a head coach. At 37, Petke is just three seasons removed from his 13-year career in Major League Soccer. His dyed blond hair and scrappy, unrelenting play on defense made him a fan favorite in New York, where he's started more games than any player in franchise history.

Winning over fans as coach of the tortured Red Bulls may prove to be a tougher task. The team is currently on a hot streak, having won three of its last four games, capped off by a two-goal performance by midfielder Tim Cahill on Saturday in Toronto. But the Red Bulls had an abysmal start to the season, and the team's record is a mediocre 4-4-2. On Saturday, the Red Bulls play the Columbus Crew at 4 p.m. ET (NBC Sports).

Through March and the first half of April, the Red Bulls showed serious flaws, including a porous defense and habit of blowing early leads late in games. In an April 7 loss to Chicago, the team went up 1-0 early, only to surrender three unanswered goals.

Publicly, Petke has taken the blame for his team's shortcomings, refusing to single out players to the press. He recently dumped the team's offensive 4-3-3 formation for a more conservative 4-4-2, and discussed his rationale with reporters.

Privately, however, Petke said the pressure has begun to take its toll.

"I always told my wife I'd never let it affect my personal life," Petke said. "Now, I'll go home, I'm playing with my kids, and snap, for the last minute I won't remember what they've said because I was thinking about what happened in the 35th minute of the game, or some passing drill we did that day."

Those who know Petke aren't surprised by his neuroses. University of Connecticut head coach Ray Reid, who coached Petke for three years at Southern Connecticut State University, said the self-critique is consistent with Petke's personality.

"Mike didn't handle losing well — he took it personally," Reid said. "He got into guys' faces. He became critical of himself. That's what I liked about him."

But wins and losses aren't the only pressures on Petke's back. He's the sole American in the team's newly hired staff of European managers, which includes French general manager Jerome de Bontin and head of global soccer Gerard Houllier, and Scottish sporting director Andy Roxburgh.

He's become a focal point for New York's soccer media, which have long repeated the team's abysmal reputation as the only original MLS club to have not won a championship.

Petke coaches a roster of expensive international stars, including captain and French hero Thierry Henry, who has long been said to wield managerial influence behind closed doors. Petke said his experience in MLS, however, gives him a perspective that even Henry lacks.

"I was brought up as a rookie in MLS, I understand the system," he said. "[Henry] and me know where we stand with each other — I've been around him three years and he knows what makes me tick."

Henry told reporters that the team was happy to give Petke his first win, which came March 30 over the Philadelphia Union. "There is a lot of pressure on him," Henry said. "Not saying pressure from the fans or [the media]. But he puts a lot of pressure on himself."

Job security is another pressure. Historically, the Red Bulls have maintained a revolving door for coaches, and 14 have come and gone since 1996. Hans Backe of Sweden, was not hired back after last season's first-round playoff loss to DC United.

Petke said he does not like to compare himself to Backe, whom he worked under as an assistant coach from 2011-12. The two, however, are a measure in contrasts. While Backe focused team practices around scrimmage, Petke has players run through structured drills.

Backe came to the Red Bulls with nearly 30 years of international coaching experience, including stints at Manchester City, as well as two Danish championship wins.

Petke is a novice who just stepped off the field. And his days as a player, Petke said, bring an unforeseen challenge to his position.

"I always told myself I'd always let my players know everything that was going on," Petke said. "Well, I get calls for trading players every day. If I told my guys everything that went on, their heads would be spinning."

Petke declined to make predictions for the Red Bulls, and said he would measure success by the team's ability to perfect the strategies and schemes he runs in practice. As for his future, Petke said he simply hopes to find balance between the stress of his position, his life at home, and his relationships on the field.

"I ask myself every night, 'what am I missing?'" Petke said. "And then I realize we aren't going to be perfect. This league isn't designed for a team to be perfect."